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Glite Dictionary
📑 To prove 🏗️ To make real
to substantiate

to substantiate

2 7.4
To make an idea seem real or clear to others
  • verb
  • /səbˈstænʃiˌeɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : materializar
  • It may have powerful results in trying to substantiate things we could never see.

And the rest of it is just really there to substantiate the thing between the two.

Examples

  • Outside sources, therefore, play a crucial role in substantiating the sagas' historical reliability.

    Academic text (1996)

  • To others, these decisions cannot be substantiated on such a foundation.

    Academic text (2013)

  • And the rest of it is just really there to substantiate the thing between the two.

    Evan Carmichael

  • Its functions, taken together, substantiate its general education intent.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Student confusion about the format and quality of information sources is substantiated by recent research.

    Academic text (2014)

  • I feel that his opinion is valid in substantiating the character of Miss Lawson.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Whatever one opts for, the approach and analytical concepts to substantiate one's argument will differ.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Stratification of wealth and the lack of affordability of information technology aid in substantiating the existence of the divide.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Explore research and available materials; work smarter rather than harder by substantiating your practice with current research and collecting effective research-based materials and strategies to use within your teaching.

    Academic text (2013)

  • The scientist provided data to substantiate her theory on climate change.

Synonyms

to realize
vsto substantiate
  • US
142 2.7

To make an idea, plan, or wish become real

emphasizes making abstract things more concrete or established
to embody
vsto substantiate
104 5.1

Show an idea, quality or feeling in a clear visible way

leans more toward giving lasting substance or formal establishment
to actualize
vsto substantiate
  • US
8 7.1

Make an idea or plan become real

focuses more on giving substance or establishing reality generally
to reify
vsto substantiate
  • Formal
3 9.9

To think of an idea as a real thing

is genuinely making something real rather than just treating it as real
to incarnate
vsto substantiate
  • Formal
1 7.0

Show an idea clearly in something you can see or touch

focuses on making things concrete or established rather than living embodiment
to instantiate
vsto substantiate
  • Specialized
1 9.6

To show a general idea by giving a clear example

focuses on forming substance broadly rather than only illustrating by example
to concretize
vsto substantiate
  • US
1 7.9

To make an idea or plan clear and specific

is broader and adds substance beyond mere specificity
to substantialize
vsto substantiate
9.0

To make an idea or plan become real and physical

is the broad act of giving substance or establishing reality
to body forth
vsto substantiate
  • Archaic
9.7

To show an idea or feeling in a visible way

is about making ideas real or established rather than just showing them

Antonyms

to negate
52 5.3

To make something no longer work or be true

How Concrete

to realize
  • US
142 2.7
to embody
104 5.1
to substantiate
  • Formal
2 7.4
to illustrate
301 3.5
to describe
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

substantiate infinitive
substantiated past
substantiated past participle
substantiating present participle
substantiates third person singular

Morphology

substantiate = substantial (semi-transparent) = sub + stant + iate

The transformation from 'substantial' to 'substantiate' involves a semantic shift from being substantial to giving form.

Etymology

Substantiate comes from the same root as substance, which means 'what something really is', from sub- 'under' and stare 'to stand'. So to substantiate an idea or feeling is to 'give it substance' and make it more real or concrete.